Tag: Writing

Sarah Pinborough on Writing in Short Bursts

This month’s special guest bestselling author Sarah Pinborough reveals a great tip for writing in 20-minute bursts…

TRANSCRIPT

MARK: What small thing has made a big difference to your creative process?

SARAH: Cocaine! Okay, that’s a joke. (laughs)

MARK: (laughs) You might have said that a little too quickly.

SARAH: What small things made a difference to my creative process. I mean, it’s not a small thing, but obviously… Oh, actually, I do have one for this! So I use the Freedom app. You know, which turns the internet off. And my friend Harriet Tyce… because I used to just turn it off for an hour and then dick around on my phone. Pointless. But she told me to do it… There’s that thing where you do it in 20 minute bursts. So you set it for 20 minutes, and then you work… because 20 minutes you can work for. And so three lots of 20 minutes, and you’ve done, like, nearly a thousand words. And it’s much more focused. So I do try and do these 20 minute bursts if I’m not feeling it. And that does help, you know. And also I’m not a great fan of the word count thing. You know, people say I must write 2500 words a day. I think it’s better to have a good thinking time.

MARK: Yeah, absolutely. That 20 minutes is that sort of Pomodoro timer.

SARAH: Yeah. That’s the word! Pomodoro. That’s it.

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

Talking ANDOR on the Authorized Podcast

Had a great time chatting about Andor season 2 on the Authorized podcast. As is often the case when I’m guesting on Authorized, I offer the case for the defence of the writer. I clearly enjoyed this show a lot more than Hannah and Overbye, though now I’ve had a re-listen I realise that their main criticism of the show is that they wanted even more of it… and I can’t argue with that. You can find the podcast on your favourite podcast provider…

And if you want to hear us chatting about season 1 of Andor, you can find that here.

Mark Stay’s Creative Differences Episode 10 with Sarah Pinborough: THE LIES WE TELL

I chat with Sarah Pinborough, the bestselling and award-winning author of Behind Her Eyes about her new thriller We Live Here Now, spooky houses, her method of ‘triple writing’, going on tour and the lies we tell each other…

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS

The book links are affiliate links and I earn a wee bit of commission if you buy from them.

WE LIVE HERE NOW

LAUNCH AT WATERSTONES MILTON KEYNES ON WEDNESDAY 4TH JUNE

SARAH’S US TOUR

MOBLAND
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
DOPE THIEF
TUBI FOR JACK PALANCE HORROR
YOU KILLED ME FIRST BY JOHN MARRS
THE HAMLET BY JOANNA CORRANCE
PAM KOWOLSKI IS A MONSTER BY SARAH LANGHAM
THE DEVILS BY JOE ABERCROMBIE
ANDOR
IT AIN’T ME BY EMILY ZECK

COME AND MEET MARK AT A COMIC CON

Mark Chadbourn on Bluesky
The Mike Shackle episode

Edit by Kai Newton
Production assistance by Emily Stay
Jingle by Dom Currie

THE GREEN ROOM

Writers: Need advice? Pop into the Green Room…

Twice a month, I run live surgeries on Zoom where you can ask me questions about the craft of writing, your WIP, or the business of publishing. Step backstage and let’s figure out practical solutions to your writing problems! The sessions will be recorded live and saved on Kofi for exclusive access to Green Room supporters.

In tonight’s session, we’ll be looking at sales agents for indie authors, writing historical fiction, working on more than project at a time and much more! Click on the image below to discover more about the Green Room…

The Corn Bride Spoiler Night Recording

Here’s the recording of last night’s Corn bride spoiler special, though in the end we didn’t end up talking much about the book, and more about what might happen next…

I’m at the Beyond the Book Festival in Brighton this Saturday

I’m excited to be part of the Beyond the Book Festival on 10th May in Brighton…

It runs from 9:30 am to 6pm at the Friends’ Meeting House in Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AF and there’s a roster of amazing authors all day! My panel is…

RISE OF THE WORLD BUILDERS

Main Room. 2.45 –  3.45pm 

Fantasy and sci-fi have seen a huge surge in popularity in the last few years, but why do we love these genres so much? In our turbulent times do we read these books to escape this world, or to see it in a different way?

Prepare to enter a multiverse of other worlds with authors Natasha Pulley (The Hymn to Dionysus), Adam Simcox (The Dying Squad), Zulekhá Afzal (Dancers of the Dawn) and podcaster, screenwriter and author Mark Stay (Witches of Woodville) as they share their stories of fantastical realms and incredible adventures. Come and celebrate the power of speculative fiction.

GET TICKETS HERE

Tracy Buchanan on her Biggest Mistake

This month’s special guest bestselling author Tracy Buchanan reveals her biggest mistake in her career…

TRANSCRIPT

MARK: So what’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made in your writing career?

TRACY: I think not being consistent and maybe pivoting too much sometimes. So, because I’m savvy I’m very aware of being careful with what publishers I’m with. I’ve learned that publishers are pretty much the same. A lot of publishers are the same. As in they’re great. A lot of publishers are great. And at the end of the day, you’re the one who’s in control. So they are helping you in a way. They’re almost like a freelancer for you. So staying with publishers, you know, I think there’s… it’s important to have that consistency. So I probably have, when I’ve been offered opportunities, jumped around a little bit too much. So, I think that’s, that’s something… I wouldn’t say it’s the biggest mistake I’ve made, but , you know, just being a bit more consistent.

Tracy Buchanan: Writing and Walks

This month’s special guest Tracy Buchanan reveals how her dog inspires her creativity…

TRANSCRIPT:

MARK: What small thing has made a big difference to your creative process?

TRACY: Oh, having a dog in my office. A small thing: it’s walks. I know that sounds really… Going out for walks when I get stuck on something or trying to come up with ideas. And that’s what my dog — my dog assistant is snoring at the moment — comes in. So that’s that is a small thing for me, because if I’m sat there and I cannot figure out this plot hole, if I go out into nature, walk around… It untangles. So I’d always recommend that to anyone: going out for walks.

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PODCAST

Or watch the whole interview on Youtube…

Join Sarah Pinborough on the Creative Differences Livestream

Join me with bestselling author Sarah Pinborough on the livestream that looks at the little things that make a big difference to the creative process.

Sarah Pinborough is an award-winning and New York Times, Sunday Times, and internationally bestselling author and screenwriter who is published in over 30 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres, her recent books include Behind Her Eyes, now a smash-hit Netflix limited series; 13 Minutes that’s she’s developing with Carnival/NBC, The Death House that she’s adapted herself for Compelling Pictures, and her most recent book Insomnia which she adapted herself and is now streaming on Paramount+
And she’s hilarious, wise and has a lovely dog called Ted.
Do please join us live as you’ll have the opportunity to ask Sarah questions on the night (and just before her big America tour!). 

It’s going to be so much fun. Put that date in your diaries now… 

Monday 12th May 8pm BST.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Or join us on Youtube…

Tracy Buchanan on the Creative Differences Podcast: “Celebrate the Good Stuff!”

Tracy Buchanan is the bestselling author of the Dr Vanessa Marwood thrillers and she runs one of the best author groups on Facebook and is a brilliant advocate for authors.

We discuss:
Which comes first: research or plot?
If authors can still earn a living from writing
Growing maggots for research purposes
And much more!

Edit by Kai Newton
Production assistance by Emily Stay
Jingle by Dom Currie

My apologies for the quality of my mic for this episode. I had a dodgy connection and sound a wee bit toppy!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS
TRACY’S WEBSITE: http://www.tracy-buchanan.com
THE SAVVY WRITERS’ SNUG FB GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/savvywriterssnug/

THE GREEN ROOM: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers

KINGDOM COME DELIVERANCE 2: https://kingdomcomerpg.com/
ASSASSIN’S CREED SHADOWS: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/assassins-creed/shadows
LANA DEL RAY: https://youtu.be/nDYY3nJ7a0s?si=CWI1sTc_iFAnErWq
CARELESS PEOPLE BY SARA WYNN-WILLIAMS: https://amzn.to/4lYWT9J (Amazon affiliate link: I earn money if you click/buy using this)
SUPREMACY BY PARMY OLSEN: https://amzn.to/4lUgrfn (Amazon affiliate link: I earn money if you click/buy using this)
CONCLAVE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclave_(film)
THE LAST OF US: https://www.hbo.com/the-last-of-us
ANDOR: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andor_(TV_series)
WRITING FOR LOVE AND/OR MONEY BY FRANK D GILROY: https://amzn.to/42VdzWT
SAMANTHA FISH, SWEET SOUTHERN SOUNDS: https://youtu.be/3rhUFAdfEjA?si=tuzMbqt3YwOxREmX

THE BESTSELLER EXPERIMENT EPISODE WITH ENTERTAINMENT LAWYERS ON COPYRIGHT/LYRICS ETC: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep32-legal-eagles/

COME AND MEET MARK STAY IN MAY 2025 AT:
MAIDSTONE 4TH MAY: https://www.creedconventions.com/event/maidstone-comic-con/
BEYOND THE BOOK FESTIVAL, BRIGHTON: https://www.beyondthebookfestival.org
READING 11TH MAY: https://www.creedconventions.com/event/reading-comic-con/
TONBRIDGE 18TH MAY: https://strikingevents.com/tonbridge/
MCM COMIC CON LONDON 23-25 MAY: https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/en-us/guests/guest-profile.html?gtID=362260&guest-name=Mark-Stay
HATFIELD 31ST MAY: https://strikingevents.com/hatfield/